300-415 ENSDWI vs 350-401 ENCOR: Which Cisco Exam Should You Take First?

If you are chasing CCNP Enterprise, two exam codes keep coming up and it is easy to mix them up: 300-415 ENSDWI and 350-401 ENCOR. They are not two versions of the same test and they are not interchangeable. One is the mandatory core exam every CCNP Enterprise candidate must pass; the other is one of several optional concentration exams that let you specialise. Choosing between them is really a question of sequence, not either/or.

This guide breaks down exactly what each exam covers, which is harder, how they map to real network engineering jobs, and the order most people should sit them in. Short version: you take 350-401 first because it is required and it teaches the foundation, then add 300-415 if SD-WAN is where your career is heading. Before you commit, it is worth sanity-checking your level with a free 300-415 practice test so you know whether the SD-WAN depth is realistic for you right now.

Below we go head to head on scope, difficulty, and career fit so you can plan your CCNP path with confidence.

How CCNP Enterprise Actually Works (Core + Concentration)

The most common misunderstanding is thinking you pick one exam. You do not. To earn CCNP Enterprise you must pass two separate exams:

• 350-401 ENCOR (Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies) — the single required core exam. Everyone earning CCNP Enterprise passes this one.
• One concentration exam of your choice — and 300-415 ENSDWI is one of six or so options (others include 300-410 ENARSI for advanced routing, 300-425 ENWLSD for wireless design, and more).

So 300-415 vs 350-401 is not a choice between two paths. 350-401 is compulsory. 300-415 is one way to fill the concentration slot. If SD-WAN is not your thing, you could pair 350-401 with ENARSI or a wireless concentration instead. That is why the sequencing question matters more than picking a winner.

One bonus worth knowing: passing 350-401 ENCOR on its own also earns you the standalone Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core certification, so it is never wasted effort.

300-415 vs 350-401 Head to Head

Here is the practical comparison of the two exams side by side:

Both exams touch automation, which surprises people — Cisco has baked programmability into every professional-level track. The difference is breadth versus depth. ENCOR is a mile wide, covering the whole enterprise stack. ENSDWI is laser-focused on making Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN (formerly Viptela) work end to end.

Which Is Harder?

Difficulty depends on your background, but here is the honest read.

350-401 ENCOR is harder for most people because of its sheer breadth. You cannot cram it. It spans routing protocols, wireless, network virtualization (VRF, GRE, IPsec, LISP, VXLAN), QoS, security, and automation. If any of those domains is weak, it shows. Many candidates fail their first attempt not because a single topic is brutal, but because the blueprint is huge and 120 minutes forces you to move fast across unfamiliar ground.

300-415 ENSDWI is narrower but deep. If you have never touched vManage or built a device template, the learning curve is steep, and the exam expects genuine hands-on familiarity with the controller workflow (vBond authenticates, vSmart distributes control policy, vManage orchestrates). But because the scope is contained to one technology, focused study pays off faster. People with real SD-WAN deployment experience often find 300-415 more approachable than the sprawling ENCOR blueprint.

Bottom line: ENCOR is harder to fully prepare for; ENSDWI is harder if you lack SD-WAN exposure but easier to target.

Which Maps Better to Your Job?

Think about what you actually do (or want to do) day to day.

• Generalist / enterprise network engineer — ENCOR fits directly. It mirrors the mixed routing, switching, wireless, and security work of a typical enterprise role. This is the default for most CCNP candidates.
• SD-WAN / WAN specialist or engineer at an MSP — 300-415 is gold. Enterprises are migrating branch WANs from MPLS to Catalyst SD-WAN in large numbers, and engineers who can stand up vManage, build policies, and troubleshoot fabric issues are in demand and command a premium.
• Aiming at network architecture or CCIE Enterprise — ENCOR is unavoidable; it is also the qualifying written exam for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, so passing it does double duty.

If your employer is rolling out SD-WAN, pairing ENCOR with ENSDWI is one of the most marketable combinations in enterprise networking right now.

Which to Take First (and Why)

Take 350-401 ENCOR first. Almost always. Three reasons:

• It is required. You need it for CCNP Enterprise no matter which concentration you pick, so passing it locks in guaranteed progress toward the cert.
• It is foundational. ENCOR covers the routing, overlay, IPsec, and automation concepts that SD-WAN is built on. Understanding OMP is far easier once you understand BGP and overlay routing from ENCOR.
• It hedges your bets. If your career shifts, ENCOR still counts — you can pair it with any concentration later. Passing 300-415 first, then never finishing ENCOR, leaves you with only a specialist badge and no CCNP.

The exception: if you already work in SD-WAN daily and your employer needs the ENSDWI specialist credential urgently (for a partner requirement, say), sit 300-415 first while the knowledge is fresh, then circle back to ENCOR. For everyone else, ENCOR first is the low-risk, high-value order.

How to Prepare for Each

For 350-401 ENCOR:

• Budget 8–12 weeks. The blueprint is large, so build a domain-by-domain study plan and do not skip the automation section — it is worth real marks and people ignore it.
• Get lab time on routing, VRFs, GRE/IPsec, and wireless. Use Cisco Modeling Labs or physical/virtual gear.
• Drill Python, JSON, and REST/NETCONF basics; you do not need to be a developer, just fluent in reading and interpreting scripts.

For 300-415 ENSDWI:

• Get hands-on with the controller stack. Spin up vManage, vBond, vSmart and onboard an edge device — nothing teaches the policy framework like building it.
• Master the difference between control policies and data policies, TLOCs, and centralized vs localized policy.
• Practise template building (feature templates and device templates) until it is second nature; it is heavily tested.

For both exams, run realistic question banks under time pressure. Start with a free 300-415 practice test to gauge your SD-WAN readiness, and review the full 350-401 ENCOR exam details before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both 300-415 and 350-401 for CCNP?

You need 350-401 ENCOR (the required core exam) plus one concentration exam. 300-415 ENSDWI can be that concentration, but it is not the only option — you could instead pair ENCOR with 300-410 ENARSI, a wireless concentration, or another choice. So you always need ENCOR; 300-415 is optional but a great pick if SD-WAN matters to your career.

Which is harder, ENSDWI or ENCOR?

For most candidates 350-401 ENCOR is harder overall because its blueprint is very broad — routing, switching, wireless, virtualization, security, and automation. 300-415 ENSDWI is narrower but goes deep on Catalyst SD-WAN, so it feels hard if you have no controller experience but is easier to target with focused study.

Should I take 350-401 or 300-415 first?

Take 350-401 ENCOR first. It is required for CCNP Enterprise, it teaches the routing and overlay foundations that SD-WAN builds on, and it counts no matter which concentration you later choose. Only sit 300-415 first if you already work in SD-WAN daily and need the specialist credential urgently.

Is 300-415 SD-WAN worth it in 2026?

Yes. Enterprises continue migrating branch WANs from MPLS to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, and engineers who can deploy and troubleshoot vManage, vSmart, and policies remain in high demand. Paired with ENCOR it forms one of the most marketable CCNP Enterprise combinations, and it also earns a standalone Enterprise SD-WAN Specialist certification.

ExamCert Team

Certified IT professionals tracking the cloud, AI, and security certification landscape. Content updated as exams and tools evolve.